May 1570, 16-31

Sends a book which he has received out of Scotland.
Hears that the printer is like to smart for the printing.—
Berwick, 16 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. P. ¼.

May 16.

927. The Commendator of Dunfermline to Cecil.

Came hither on the 15th inst. with instructions from the
nobility of the King of Scotland's council, which he would
be glad to confer upon with him at such time as he shall
think expedient.—London, 16 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd., with seal. P. ¼.

May 16.

928. The French Ambassador to Cecil.

Thanks him for advertising him of the good turn which
the Queen of Scots' affairs have taken through the goodness
of Her Majesty, and which he does not doubt was aided by
his counsel. Desires if he has received any news out of
France that he will communicate it to him. Also that he will
attend to the complaints of certain of his master's subjects,
which he forwards.—London, 16 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd., with seal. Fr. P. ½.

May 17.

929. Sir Arthur Champernoun to Cecil.

By letters from France he learns that the King has granted
the demands of the Queen of Navarre's deputies, but touching
the articles and conditions of peace nothing is yet known.
The French King is going to St. Malo and Brest.—Dartington,
17 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. P. 1.

May 17.

930. The Earl of Lennox to Cecil.

The King's rebels, their adversaries, would not tarry their
coming at Glasgow, but departed to their great shame, and
loss of a good number of their soldiers and captains slain and
hurt out of the castle. They mind this night to be at Glas
gow. Fears that he cannot continue to serve Her Majesty
any time in this country without the help of some money.—
Stirling, 17 May. Signed.

Add. Endd. P. ¾.

May 17.

931. The Earl of Sussex to the Queen.

Gives a summary of his negociations with the Lairds of
Grange and Lethington, and the Lords of the Queen of Scots'
party, whereby it appears that though they will agree to disarm if the other party do the like, and to put from them the
Queen of England's rebels, they refused to deal with her in
any matter touching their Queen, or to resist the coming of
the French, or to send hostages into England. Has sent the
marshal with forces at the request of the Lords of the King's
party. Lethington uses ill offices to Her Majesty, and shows
himself ingrate in word and deed. He abuses many with
two persuasions, the one that the French aid will presently
come, and the other that he knows all the Queen of England's
secret intentions and dealings. He will be a perilous instrument against her in all he may. This day the whole power
that the Earl of Morton and his side can make meet at
Stirling, and go to-morrow with the Marshal to raise the
siege at Glasgow. Sends a letter which he has received from
the Lords of her party.—Berwick, 17 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. Pp. 3¼.

May 16.

932. The Earls of Lennox, Morton, and others to the Earl
of Sussex.

1. Have communicated with his servant Richard Wrothe and
heard his instructions, and march forward to-day. Point out
how hurtful the holding of the castle of Dumbarton has been to
the quietness of the whole isle, being the receptacle of the
rebels of both the realms, and being a place for strangers to
land at. Desire him to let the Queen and her council understand this.

2. P.S.—Promise their assistance in case the Queen should
command the siege of Dumbarton.—Edinburgh, 16 May 1570.
Signed by Lennox, Morton, and other Lords of their party.

Add. Endd. P. 1. Enclosure.

May 17.

933. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.

Detests Lethington as a traitor. Is assured by noblemen
that he has said that he will make the Queen's Majesty "sytt
on her tayle and whyne," a vile speech for such a varlet, and
yet he gives out that she has written within ten days more
gentle and loving letters to him than ever she did, and that
he knows the bottom of her secrets. If he be so privy to
those secrets the Queen is in a hard state.—Berwick, 17 May
1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. P. 1.

May 17.

934. The Laird of Lethington to Cecil.

Part of the English forces have come to this town and
joined with five or six lords to suppress the rest. Marvels
that the Queen of England is advised to cast off the amity of
all Scotland for the pleasure of a few who cannot at length
serve her turn in anything. All the Scotchmen that are in
their company has not made them 200 horse. The other
Lords are constrained to sue for foreign aid. This faction
that aspires to rule without reason throws the whole burden
upon him, and goes about to make him odious in England,
yet he has dealt so plainly with England by his letters to the
Earl of Leicester that they have cause to judge well of him.
Fears that Mr. Randolph has been an evil instrument, and
cannot believe that the Queen would have taken the course
she runs if she had been truly informed of the state here, as
he went about to do in his letters to Leicester.— Edinburgh
Castle, 17 May 1570.

Copy. Endd. P. 1.

May 18.

935. Queen Elizabeth to the Czar of Muscovy.

Has received his letters and expresses her willingness to
enter into a league offensive and defensive with him. Also
if through any mishap he should be driven to change his
country she promises him free ingress and egress to and from
England, and will appoint a fit place where he may remain
as long as he likes at his own charges.

Draft. Endd. Pp. 2.

936. Another copy of the above. — Hampton Court, 18 May
1570.

Draft corrected by Cecil. Pp. 3¼.

May 18.

937. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.

Has received advertisement from the Marshal that the Duke
and his company left the siege at Glasgow as soon as they
understood that he had set forth out of Edinburgh. Every
man has gone to his own dwelling. They have gathered a
few shot into Draffin, a strong house of the Duke's, but situate
in a hole so that it is commanded on every part. Desires
him to report the premises to the Queen that she may see
that her party in Scotland is not wholly under foot. Lethington finds great fault with the taking of Home Castle.
The Duke and his company lost two of their chiefest captains
at Glasgow.—Berwick, 18 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. P. 1.

May 18.

938. The Privy Council to Lord Cobham.

The Spanish Ambassador having made grievous complaint
that certain pirates have seized three hulks upon the seas
and taken two of them into Dover, he is directed to speedily
apprehend the said pirates and to cause the hulks and
goods to be put under sure custody by inventory.

Draft, corrected by Cecil. Endd.: 18 May 1570. Pp. 1½.

May 19.

939. Sir Henry Norris to Cecil.

Understanding that the French King was following his
pastime in Britanny, he sent Daniel Rogers thither to advertise their proceedings, and to understand where he might
have audience. Can write no more concerning the treaty of
peace. The Marshal Cosse is gone from Orleans with 2,000
horse and 4,000 French footmen. The Admiral's greatest
force is in Dauphigne. The Bishop of Ross being at
liberty and having so troublesome a head, thinks it were
well for Her Majesty's quietness to rid him the country. The
Queen of Scots treasurer has required him to forward 4,000
crowns to his mistress. Has refused on account of its being
so great a sum. Has forwarded 1,000. Desires to know
whether he has done right.—Paris, 19 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd., with seal. Part in cipher. Pp. 12/3.

May 20.

940. The Commendator of Dunfermline to Cecil.

Desires him to hold the Queen in remembrance for the payment of the 200 harquebussiers who served the late Regent
and who now serve the King, which extends to the sum
of 2,000l. If they get not hastily payment they are able
to serve the adverse party. In times coming they shall be
counted in the number of the 1,000 footmen desired in his
memorial.—Kingston, 20 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. P. ⅓.

May 21.

941. War in Grenada.

Letter from the camp of Don John of Austria containing
information respecting the progress of the war against the
Moriscos.—21 May 1570.

Endd. Span. Pp. 12/3.

May 21.

942. Audience of the French Ambassador.

The French Ambassador desired the Queen in his master's
name to withdraw her forces from Scotland, and also said that
though he knew the Queen of England's intention of restoring
the Queen of Scots, yet seeing her affairs go from bad to worse
he began to take the delays as manifest refusals. Also that
no one could find it strange that he took this matter so
much to heart, the friendship of the Queen of England being
of so much consequence to him, and the defence and protection of the Queen of Scots touching his honour. The Queen
after replying to the Ambassador on the spot, caused the
Lords of her Council to answer on the following day that she
thought that in order to satisfy the King's wishes he should
send a gentleman of rank into Scotland to the Lords of the
Queen of Scots' party to desire them to surrender the English
fugitives or at least to abandon them, in which case the
Queen would be content to retire her forces from Scotland,
provided that a mutual disarmament was agreed upon between
both parties in that kingdom. The Queen also promises to
proceed with all diligence in the matter of the restoration of
the Queen of Scots. The Ambassador is required to write to
his master to refrain from sending forces into Scotland.—21
May 1570.

Endd. Fr. Pp. 1½.

943. Another copy, dated 22 May 1570.

Endd. Fr. Pp. 1½.

May 22.

944. The Queen to the Earl of Sussex.

Though she cannot mislike to have that party that depended
upon her aided and maintained from ruin, yet she could have
wished that her forces should not in such sort have entered so
far within the country, for thereby she perceives by the French
Ambassador that the King, his master, will accelerate his
succours into Scotland, and then a kind of war will fall out
betwixt him and her. Though she cannot precisely direct
him to revoke her forces from Glasgow, yet she plainly gives
him to understand that she means not that they should go to
Dumbarton or any further into that realm. Intends to treat
again this day with the French Ambassador to devise how he
can procure a disarming and the delivery of her rebels, which
if he will take upon him Sussex will have a direct occasion to
retire her forces.

Draft in Cecil's writing. Endd. Pp. 1⅓.

May 22.

945. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.

Forwards a letter which he has received from the Earl of
Morton and his company. Has not heard from the Marshal
since his coming to Glasgow. The ordinary charges here
be about 6,000l. the month.—Berwick, 22 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. P. 1.

May 18.

946. The Earls of Lennox, Morton, and others to the Earl of
Sussex.

The enemies of quietness being now dissipated and sundered
they will procure by all means that neither shall they have
commodity to assemble, nor Frenchmen or other strangers
have access to them. Advise that Dumbarton should be beseiged by the forces under Drury; with whom they promise
to concur in whatsoever he shall do, and desire that ordnance
may be sent by sea to Stirling.—Stirling, 18 May 1570.
Signed by Lennox, Morton, and the other Lords of their party.

Add. P. 1. Enclosure.

May 19.

947. The Earl of Sussex to the Earls of Morton, Mar, &c.

Has received their letter for the sending certain great ordnance to Stirling for the battering of Dumbarton Castle, and
would be very glad to satisfy their request, but cannot well
do so before he knows the Queen's pleasure. Finds it also a
hard matter upon such a sudden to send forth all matters
appertaining to such an enterprise as engines and other warlike necessaries and powder. Would be loath to attempt the
matter without a sufficient number of great pieces, which
upon a sudden can hardly be done.—Berwick, 19 May 1570.

Copy. P. 1. Enclosure.

May 22.

948. Charles IX. to Queen Elizabeth.

Requiring redress for two of his subjects whose vessels have
been seized by the English. — Ploermel, 22 May 1570.
Signed.

Add. Endd. Fr. Broadside.

May 22.

949. The French Ambassador to Cecil.

Will come to the Court, according to Cecil's direction, at
2 p.m. this day.—London, 22 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd., with seal. Fr. P. ¼.

May 23.

950. The Queen to Sir Henry Norris.

1. Advertises him at length of the late negotiations with
the French Ambassador for the withdrawal of her forces from
Scotland, and the restitution of the Queen of Scots to her
estate; also of her answer which she desires him to communicate to the French King.

2. The principal scope he is to bear in mind is by all means
possible to induce the said King to forbear sending any forces
into Scotland.

Draft, corrected by Cecil, and partly in his handwriting.
Endd. Pp. 7¾.

May 23.

951. Christopher Duke of Mecklinburg to the Queen.

Desires that she will bestow some annual pension upon him
as the Papists are taking many of the neighbouring princes
into their pay.—Gudebusch, 23 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. Lat. Pp. 1¼.

May 24.

952. Sir Henry Norris to Cecil.

The bearer coming from the Admiral being apprehended for
safety of his life, broke the letters which were sent to divers,
reserving but one sent to the Cardinal of Chatillon, written
on a linen cloth in cipher. The King is at Mont St. Michel,
where he intends to keep the Feast of Corpus Christi. Has
sent to know whether he shall repair there for audience.
Gives the movements of the Princes and the Admiral. Encloses a letter from the Cardinal of Lorraine to one of his
dear friends. Begs that he will be good to Mr. Huddlestone
that he may procure the renewal of the lease of a certain
farm.—Paris, 24 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd., with seal. P. 1.

May 4.

953. The Cardinal of Lorraine to—.

As to the peace dicessum est re infecta, which raises their
hopes. There is an assembly of great persons where all will
speak freely. The terms granted are certain towns as cities
of refuge, but not restitution of offices. The haut justiciers
and tenants of fiefs de haubert may have free exercise of
religion in their own houses but nowhere else. They demand
six weeks for deliberation.—Chateau Briant, 4 May 1570.

Copy. Fr. P. ½.Enclosure.

May 24.

954. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.

Forwards letters from the Earl of Morton and the rest to
the Commendator of Dunfermline. There is no force levied
in any part of the realm at this present against such as pursue
the Queen's rebels. They hear only in words that the French
be presently looked for.—Berwick, 24 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. P. ½.

May 26.

955. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.

Sends a note from the Treasurer, wherein he will find that
the Queen has been charged with 140 horsemen more than
the 1,000 appointed. The certainty of this being now known
to him, he has taken order for the discharge thereof to the
ordinary numbers. The Marshal is upon his return to Edinburgh. There is no man in Scotland who raises head against
him.—Berwick, 26 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. P. 2/3.

May 26.

956. Sir Valentine Browne to Cecil.

Sends herewith a brief collection of the charges as well of
the army since the 1st of April, as also of sundry supplies of
horsemen and footmen laid upon the Borders at several days
and times during the winter. Prays him to be a means to
enable him to discharge his endebtedness for the provisions
bought in London, so that he may trusted hereafter.—Berwick,
26 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. P. 2/3.

May 26.

957. Zacharias Vhelingus to Cecil.

Informs him of the strong desire of his master Duke
Christopher of Mechlinburg to serve the Protestant cause, and
suggests that he should receive an annual pension from the
Queen of England.—Lubeck, 26 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd., with seal. Lat. Pp. 2¼.

May 27.

958. Sir Henry Norris to Cecil.

Has not yet received answer touching his audience, but
trusts that it will be imputed to the incommodity of the time
rather than to his own default. There are joined with the
Marshal de Cossé, 8,000 Swiss of a new levy. He has besides
4,000 French footmen and 30 companies of men-at-arms, and
his meaning is to join with M. D'Anville, and then essay the
fortune of battle. The Admiral is at Montbrisson in Auverne.
The quarrel betwixt D'Anville and Monluc is rather increased,
Monluc having again with most spiteful words replied upon
D'Anville's letter.—Paris, 27 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd., with seal. P. 1.

May 27.

959. M. De Lumbres to Cecil.

Complains of the arrest of one of the Prince of Orange's
captains, as the state of war has been recognised by many
Kings and Princes. If the captures made under colour of
this state of war are to be considered thefts there will be no
security for any of them, as their battles and other exploits
of arms must be regarded as murders and assassinations.—
London, 27 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd., with seal. Fr. Pp. 12/3.

May 28.

960. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.

Knows not what may move the Queen to wish that her
forces had not entered so far into Scotland, when it is manifest
that if they had not so done her party had been suppressed, and
all Scotland had been presently French. If the French do but
brag of sending a force into Scotland they have missed their
mark, and if they intend it indeed it is grounded upon a
longer practice than can be gathered since his sending the
Queen's forces thither, which could not be known to the King
when his ambassador used that speech to Her Majesty. The
Earls of Lennox and Glencairn and Lord Semple brought to
Glasgow 4,000 horse and foot, well appointed, after the manner
of Scotland, The other noblemen were a company of chosen
men and of a great number, so that they thought themselves
of sufficient force to give battle to any power the adverse
party could make.—Berwick, 28 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. Pp. 2¾.

May 29.

961. M. De Lumbres to Cecil.

Sent two gentlemen to the Privy Council to desire the
release of M. de Schrouville, one of the Prince of Orange's
captains, who is unjustly detained in prison at the suit of a
certain Spaniard. As owing to the absence of the greater
part of the Council the request was not presented, he desires
to know when he may see Cecil at his house about this
matter.—Ogton, 29 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd., with seal. Fr. P. ½.

May 30.

962. The Earl of Lennox to Cecil.

Commends the behaviour of Sir William Drury with the
captains and soldiers under his charge. Refers him to the
bearer for his proceedings and for the late accident which has
chanced by the taking of the Lord Semple, whom they intend
to remove to Dumbarton, but he trusts that they shall be
visited by the way.—Glasgow, 30 May. Signed.

Add. Endd. P. ¾.

May 30.

963. The Earl of Morton to the Commendator of Dunfermline.

Perceiving by his letter of the 23d from Kingston that he
looks for no full answer from the Queen and Council till they
have word of their proceedings in Scotland, he sends him an
account of what has passed since the coming of the English
army. The Duke, with the rest of that faction, departed
from the siege of Glasgow Castle, having lost 30 slain. Informs
him of the different places they have dispersed to. The
Lords of the King's party have appointed with all the
gentlemen of Clydesdale who have promised to serve the
King, to send in pledges to that effect. Have won the castle
of Hamilton, and burnt it, together with the Duke's palace
and town of Hamilton, with a great part of the Hamilton's
houses, and never saw man in all this time to offer a stroke
in their contrary, howbeit their forays came oftentimes ten
miles abroad. Whereas Lethington told the Marshal of Berwick that they could not make 200 men to accompany
them, they mustered near Glasgow to the number of 4,000
foot and horse, and he thinks there were no fewer, all gentlemen and householders, who remained in Glasgow. If
the General might tarry any longer space with them he
thinks the greatest part of all Scotland should be recovered
to the King's obedience, and bind themselves to keep the
peace between the two realms. The town of Edinburgh
made a muster at the same time to the number of 1,500 men,
well accoutred in armour, besides as many more servants and
prentices who were in the town. They have been sworn,
every man in particular, to the King's obedience and service,
and promised that they will none of them procure the loosing
of the arrest and stay of ships and goods in France and
the Low Countries at the Queen of Scots' or her Ambassador's
hands. The Duke's houses of Kinneil and Linlithgow are
demolished by powder. At his special request the town of
Linlithgow is saved, for the which they have given pledges
for being in the Queen of England's will, for the reset of her
rebels, and promised that none of them shall be received in
the town.—Edinburgh, 30 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. Pp. 2½.

May 31.

964. The Queen to the Earl of Sussex.

Whereas of long time great suits and labours have been made
to her to come to some appointment with the Queen of Scots
for her liberty and restitution, and large offers have been made
in her own name, and those of the Kings of France and Spain,
to reduce which into more certainty she has required license to
send into Scotland to procure some of her nobility to repair into
England to treat of her causes, she has assented thereunto.
Means to provide for the surety of the young Prince and the
nobility professing obedience to him, and is desirous to have
their opinions therein, and has secretly opened her mind to
the Commendator of Dunfermline, who has required her to
cause the same to be from herself some other way opened to
the nobility from whom he was sent. She therefore desires
that either Randolph or himself will impart this to the said
nobility, with a full assurance from her on the honour of a
prince that she will in no wise accord with the said Queen
without good assurance for all their sureties, and require them
to send some one to her fully instructed, and that in the meantime they cease from all hostility, and if any attempt is made
against them she will assist them. Leaves the manner of
opening this matter to him as a thing that will much discomfort them if it be not very warily handled, though she knows
that some other princes respecting only worldly policy would
otherwise deal herein and not lose the opportunity. The
charges of her army being very great, she thinks good that he
shall in some secret and indirect sort diminish them by licensing
some to depart, and cassing others so that no open notice be
given abroad of the same.

Draft in Cecil's writing. Endd.: 31 May 1570. Pp. 3½.

May 31.

965. The Queen to Randolph.

Having yielded to hear what offers the Queen of Scots can
make to her, she has at length declared her intention to the
Earl of Sussex, whom she has required to impart certain
things to be communicated to the party that favours England
by him.

Draft in Cecil's writing. Endd.: May 30, 1570. P. 2/3.

May 31.

966. The Queen to the Earl of Morton and others.

Perceives their disposition to be advised and directed by her
in the government of the realm, for which she heartily thanks
them, and allows thereof; and assures them that notwithstanding any sinister report, she will have due regard of
their estates and sureties as shall be at more length declared
to them by order of the Earl of Sussex.

Draft in Cecil's writing. Endd.: 31 May 1570. P. 1.

May 31.

967. The Earl of Sussex to Cecil.

Encloses a copy of his letter to Lethington, and also the Earl
of Morton and the other noblemen's letter to himself.—Berwick,
31 May 1570. Signed.

Add. Endd. P. ½.

May 30.

968. The Earl of Sussex to Lethington.

Has received letters from him touching the delivery of his
brother and the restoring of his goods taken by Rowland
Forster, and promises his best help to recover them. Has
seen his writing, wherein he affirms that he has meant good
offices to the Queen of England. It seems that he has been a
principal procurer to draw French force into Scotland, and it
will be hard to conceive how that action and his good offices
to the Queen may concur. Writes plainly because he would
be plainly dealt with again. Was desirous to procure a demission of the Queen's rebels and a surcease of arms on both
sides, but receiving no answer he was driven to set forward
her forces. Since which time he has received a note of the
articles brought by Wrothe, and his answer to them, which
articles neither agree with those which he sent or with the
answer which Wrothe delivered. The rebels and such as took
their part being dispersed, he intends to revoke his forces.
Desires Lethington to deal with the Duke and the others to
continue quiet, and he will deal with the other side to do the
like upon the following conditions: The disarmament to be
bonâ fide; the Queen's rebels to be put from them; certain
sufficient persons to be sent to the Queen of England to open
their intentions, causes, and determinations to her; and both
sides to bind themselves to perform the premises until the return of their messenger from the Queen. If both sides shall
accord to these articles he promises that he will not use the
Queen's forces against any person in Scotland, except those
who have invaded England or been maintainers of her rebels.—
Berwick, 30 May 1570.

Copy. Signed. Endd. Pp. 3. Enclosure.

May 29.

969. The Earl of Morton and others to the Earl of Sussex.

Give him special thanks for putting the state of the common
cause in full security. Commend the wisdom and celerity of
Sir William Drury, and ask that he may be allowed to remain
with them and help them to take Dumbarton Castle.—Linlithgow, 29 May 1570.